Old Cow Town Ranch going to auction -- don't tell William Koch

Last year, billionaire William Koch bought Buckskin Joe for $3.1 million, and moved the buildings to his private ranch outside Gunnison. But now you've got another chance to buy an old-timey Colorado town... if Koch, who also dropped $2 million on a Billy the Kid tintype, isn't there with his big checkbook.

On September 22, Old Cow Town Ranch, a reproduction of a frontier town, will be auctioned off in Saguache. While many of the buildings are replicas, a few buildings date frmo the 1880s, when this property was the part of the Hoaglund stagecoach line.

Here's the description from the website of J.P. King, which is hosting the auction:

One-of-a-kind property on 320+/- acres in San Luis Valley featuring authentic 1880's Old West Town and Premier Log Home

Originally listed at $10 Million, now selling at or above a minimum bid of $2.7 Million.

J. P. King, in conjunction with Fuller Western Real Estate , have partnered to offer a truly unique property. Old Cow Town Ranch is an authentic reproduction of an 1880's Old West town nestled in a beautiful horse-shoe shaped rimrock valley in the mountains of south central Colorado. The ranch occupies 320+/- acres in Saguache County and is adjacent on three sides to public lands managed by the Rio Grande National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management (totaling 2 million acres). This spectacular property is one-of-a-kind and features a main home exuding western elegance and the "town" which consists of 15 authentic western buildings, outdoor stage, equestrian facility, and endless recreation. The property will be selling in eight legal parcels as an entirety.

The sprawling acreage includes 60+/- acres of lush meadows and pastures that are watered by the seasonal Mill Creek and Harence Irrigation Ditch. The remaining acreage is rolling to mountainous terrain with scattered rock outcroppings, pinion, juniper and ponderosa trees. The perimeter of the property is fenced, with an abundance of cross-fencing throughout. The ranch offers breathtaking views of the San Luis Valley and surrounding mountains.

Currently operating as a Resort Ranch Town, Old Cow Town Ranch is ideal for an equestrian facility, family or corporate retreat, trophy hunting and recreational ranch, cattle operation or many different variations of a guest facility.

The main residence is a spacious, well-appointed log home with a detached log garage. Beautifully constructed with wood beams, Amish hickory flooring, and western architectural influence, the home conveys the essence of the surrounding countryside and its extensive windows capture the views of the valley and mountains. Featuring a large one bedroom layout, the home's master suite has an indoor hot tub with deck overlooking the outside waterfall and pond. The two-story home has massive stone fireplaces on both levels, a "weeping wall" and in-home stream in the main room, radiant in-floor heating throughout, and a dream gourmet kitchen with gorgeous wood cabinetry, designer lighting, and breakfast nook. An unfinished basement has plumbing and framework for installing additional bedrooms and bath. With an excellent outdoor entertaining area, the home is professionally landscaped with waterfalls, ponds, and intricate brickwork.

The "Town" consists of an additional fifteen buildings, outdoor stage, and amphitheater that can accommodate 28 overnight guests and has an outdoor lighting and sound system. Each building has been carefully crafted with intricate details to ensure the authenticity of an old western era. The "Town" features a saloon and restaurant with amazing woodwork, bar, saloon doors, game room, and wraparound porch. The Sunshine Social Club is a very nice lodging facility with ten guest rooms, each with a private bath. The lodge offers a common area, laundry facility, and kitchen to accommodate continental breakfast. Additional buildings include a Dance Hall, Gift Shoppe with working water wheel reminiscent of the flour mills of the Old West, Museum, a charming Chapel, large Greenhouse, RV hookup site and superb equestrian facilities. Two horse-barns with 22 stalls also include an outdoor roping and riding arena.

Located on the ranch are three cabins built circa 1880 and an old barn that are all historic remnants of the old Hoaglund stage coach line.

Old Cow Town Ranch is situated near year-round recreational opportunities. The ranch is located in an excellent big game hunting area known as Unit 68, a 4-point plus area that offers some of the finest trophy bull elk, deer, and antelope hunting in the world. Two National Wildlife Refuges are located in the Southern San Luis Valley with numerous springs and wetlands encouraging a local population, as well as migrating ducks and geese. The ranch is a ride-out location to National Forest trails and roads that are ideal for ATV riding. Residents and guests can also enjoy fishing for "Gold Medal" trout in nearby Rio Grande River or for the snowmobiling enthusiasts; excellent riding trails are within close proximity. A plethora of horseback riding, biking, hiking, sledding, and skiing destinations are a short drive away, in addition to the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

Old Cow Town Ranch provides a glimpse into the Old West, with the comforts of modern day convenience.

Fair warning: The winning bidder must also pay a 10 percent buyer's premium. Still, Bill Koch had to fork over a 15 percent premium on top of his $2 million Billy the Kid bid, which is what drove that sale to a record $2.3 million.

Patricia Calhoun co-founded Westword, Denver’s News and Arts weekly, in 1977; she’s been the editor there ever since. She’s a regular on the weekly Colorado Public Television roundtable Colorado Inside Out, the former president of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies -- a post that got her an unexpected interview with former President Bill Clinton in front of a thousand people (while she was in flip-flops) -- and played a real journalist in John Sayles’s Silver City.